This photograph was a bit of an accident, an example of switching gears to take advantage of an unexpected opportunity. I had stayed in Ridgecrest, California the night before, with a plan of leaving very early and photographing at the Trona Pinnacles at sunrise. I’ve been there many times, but I have never quite gotten the light I was hoping for, and I thought this might be my chance. But when I arrived there clouds, lots of clouds! And it was soon apparent that I wasn’t going to get he sunrise light that I hoped to see on the pinnacles. However, interesting things were happening in the distance.
Quite far to the north the highest peaks of the Panamint Range are visible, including Telescope Peak. This mountain is the highest in the Death Valley area with a summit at over 11,000 feet. Lenticular clouds were forming above the ridge and soon colorful sunrise light began to reach them, producing a striking contrast with the dark mountains and more distant clouds.
G Dan Mitchell is a California photographer and visual opportunist. His book, “California’s Fall Color: A Photographer’s Guide to Autumn in the Sierra” is available from Heyday Books, Amazon, and directly from G Dan Mitchell.
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